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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of a commission to recommend improvements |
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to funding for special education in public schools. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 48, Education Code, is amended by adding |
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Subchapter H to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER H. TEXAS COMMISSION ON SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING |
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Sec. 48.401. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "commission" |
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means the Texas Commission on Special Education Funding. |
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Sec. 48.402. TEXAS COMMISSION ON SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING. |
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(a) The commission is established to develop and make |
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recommendations regarding methods of financing special education |
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in public schools. |
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(b) The commission is composed of 13 members, appointed as |
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follows: |
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(1) four members appointed by the governor; |
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(2) four members appointed by the lieutenant governor; |
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(3) four members appointed by the speaker of the house |
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of representatives; and |
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(4) a member of the State Board of Education, as |
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designated by the chair of that board. |
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(c) In making appointments under Subsections (b)(1), (2), |
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and (3), the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the |
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house of representatives shall coordinate to ensure that membership |
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of the commission, to the extent possible, reflects the ethnic and |
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geographic diversity of this state. |
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(d) The members appointed by: |
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(1) the governor must have an interest in public |
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education and at least include: |
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(A) one member who is a current or retired |
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classroom teacher with at least 10 years of experience teaching |
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special education; |
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(B) one member of the business community with |
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experience employing individuals with disabilities; and |
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(C) one person who is a member of an organization |
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with the purpose of supporting students and families serviced by |
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special education; |
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(2) the lieutenant governor must include three members |
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of the senate and one administrator of a public school; and |
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(3) the speaker of the house of representatives must |
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include three members of the house of representatives and one |
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administrator of a public school. |
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Sec. 48.403. PRESIDING OFFICER. The governor shall |
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designate the presiding officer of the commission. |
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Sec. 48.404. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT. A member of |
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the commission is not entitled to compensation for service on the |
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commission but is entitled to reimbursement for actual and |
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necessary expenses incurred in performing commission duties. |
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Sec. 48.405. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AND FUNDING. (a) The |
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agency shall provide administrative support for the commission. |
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(b) Funding for the administrative and operational expenses |
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of the commission shall be provided by legislative appropriation |
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made to the agency for that purpose. |
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Sec. 48.406. RECOMMENDATIONS. (a) The commission shall |
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develop recommendations under this subchapter to address issues |
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related to special education funding, including: |
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(1) policy changes to the public school finance system |
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to improve funding of special education; and |
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(2) an analysis of and recommendations for a new |
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system, including a matrix-based system that bases funding on the |
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nature and intensity levels of special education services necessary |
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to meet the needs of the student. |
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(b) The commission may establish one or more working groups |
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composed of not more than five members of the commission to study, |
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discuss, and address specific policy issues and recommendations to |
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refer to the commission for consideration. |
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Sec. 48.407. REPORT. Not later than December 31, 2022, the |
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commission shall prepare and deliver a report to the governor and |
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the legislature that recommends statutory changes to improve |
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funding for special education. |
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Sec. 48.408. PUBLIC MEETINGS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION. (a) |
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The commission may hold public meetings as needed to fulfill its |
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duties under this subchapter. |
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(b) The commission is subject to Chapters 551 and 552, |
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Government Code. |
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Sec. 48.409. COMMISSION ABOLISHED; EXPIRATION OF |
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SUBCHAPTER. The commission is abolished and this subchapter |
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expires January 1, 2023. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |